Born: September 13, 1916 Llandaff, South Wales
Died: November 23, 1990 Oxford, England
Biography:
Roald Dahl was born September 13, 1916, in Llandaff, South Wales, United Kingdom, to Norwegian parents. After his father died when Dahl was only four, his mother followed her late husband's wish that Dahl be sent to English schools. Dahl first attended Llandaff Cathedral School, where he began a series of unfortunate adventures in school. Because of this, Dahl's mother moved him to St. Peter's Boarding School and later to Repton, an excellent private school. Though not a good student, his mother nevertheless offered him the option of attending Oxford or Cambridge University when he finished school. He declined this opportunity.
After graduating from Repton, Dahl took worked in many positions that took him around the gloabe. Dahl suffered severe head injuries in a plane crash near Alexandria, Egypt. Upon recovering he was sent to Washington, D.C. There Dahl began his writing career, publishing a short story in the Saturday Evening Post. His stories appeared in many other magazines. Like Dahl said, "as I went on, the stories became less and less realistic and more fantastic. But becoming a writer was pure fluke. Without being asked to, I doubt if I'd ever have thought of it."
Dahl’s love for writing and poetry began to grow. He began to write many poems and stories. His most famous stories are James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Matilda. He has written numerous poems, many of which are based off of his books, including Mike Teavee... and Augustus Gloop! Augustus Gloop. Roald did all his writing in a little hut at the bottom of his garden. It was rather scruffy, with an old armchair, but he liked the peace and went there for hours every day. He carried on writing right up until he died in 1990.
Accomplishments:
While Dahl never did receive awards for his poetry he won awards for other accomplishments in his life. Dahl received three Edgar Allan Poe Awards (1954, 1959, 1980). In 1982 he won a literary prize for the book THE BFG. In 1983 he received World Fantasy Convention Lifetime Achievement award.
Photos:
Poems:
Roald Dahl wrote over 20 poems. These include:
Mike Teavee.....
The most important thing we've learned, So far as children are concerned, Is never, NEVER, NEVER let Them near your television set -- Or better still, just don't install The idiotic thing at all. In almost every house we've been, We've watched them gaping at the screen. They loll and slop and lounge about, And stare until their eyes pop out. (Last week in someone's place we saw A dozen eyeballs on the floor.) They sit and stare and stare and sit Until they're hypnotised by it, Until they're absolutely drunk With all that shocking ghastly junk. Oh yes, we know it keeps them still, They don't climb out the window sill, They never fight or kick or punch, They leave you free to cook the lunch And wash the dishes in the sink -- But did you ever stop to think, To wonder just exactly what This does to your beloved tot? IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD! IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD! IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND! IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND! HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE! HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE! HE CANNOT THINK -- HE ONLY SEES! 'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say, 'But if we take the set away, What shall we do to entertain Our darling children? Please explain!' We'll answer this by asking you, 'What used the darling ones to do? 'How used they keep themselves contented Before this monster was invented?' Have you forgotten? Don't you know? We'll say it very loud and slow: THEY ... USED ... TO ... READ! They'd READ and READ, AND READ and READ, and then proceed To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks! One half their lives was reading books! The nursery shelves held books galore! Books cluttered up the nursery floor! And in the bedroom, by the bed, More books were waiting to be read! Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales And treasure isles, and distant shores Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars, And pirates wearing purple pants, And sailing ships and elephants, And cannibals crouching 'round the pot, Stirring away at something hot. (It smells so good, what can it be? Good gracious, it's Penelope.) The younger ones had Beatrix Potter With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter, And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland, And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and- Just How The Camel Got His Hump, And How the Monkey Lost His Rump, And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul, There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole- Oh, books, what books they used to know, Those children living long ago! So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install A lovely bookshelf on the wall. Then fill the shelves with lots of books, Ignoring all the dirty looks, The screams and yells, the bites and kicks, And children hitting you with sticks- Fear not, because we promise you That, in about a week or two Of having nothing else to do, They'll now begin to feel the need Of having something to read. And once they start -- oh boy, oh boy! You watch the slowly growing joy That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen They'll wonder what they'd ever seen In that ridiculous machine, That nauseating, foul, unclean, Repulsive television screen! And later, each and every kid Will love you more for what you did.
I've got the Golden Ticket
I never thought my life could be Anything but catastrophe But suddenly I begin to see A bit of good luck for me
'Cause I've got a golden ticket I've got a golden twinkle in my eye
I never had a chance to shine Never a happy song to sing But suddenly half the world is mine What an amazing thing
'Cause I've got a golden ticket It's ours, Charlie I've got a golden sun up in the sky
I never thought I'd see the day When I would face the world and say Good morning, look at the sun I never thought that I would be Slap in the lap of luxury' Cause I'd have said it couldn't be done But it can be done
I never dreamed that I would climb Over the moon in ecstasy But nevertheless, it's there that I'm Shortly about to be
'Cause I've got a golden ticket I've got a golden chance to make my way And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day
Good morning, look at the sun' Cause I'd have said it couldn't be done But it can be done
I never dreamed that I would climb Over the moon in ecstasy But nevertheless, it's there that I'm Shortly about to be
'Cause I've got a golden ticket' Cause I've got a golden ticket I've got a golden chance to make my way And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day
Roald Dahl
By: Emily O.
Born: September 13, 1916 Llandaff, South WalesDied: November 23, 1990 Oxford, England
Biography:
Roald Dahl was born September 13, 1916, in Llandaff, South Wales, United Kingdom, to Norwegian parents. After his father died when Dahl was only four, his mother followed her late husband's wish that Dahl be sent to English schools. Dahl first attended Llandaff Cathedral School, where he began a series of unfortunate adventures in school. Because of this, Dahl's mother moved him to St. Peter's Boarding School and later to Repton, an excellent private school. Though not a good student, his mother nevertheless offered him the option of attending Oxford or Cambridge University when he finished school. He declined this opportunity.
After graduating from Repton, Dahl took worked in many positions that took him around the gloabe. Dahl suffered severe head injuries in a plane crash near Alexandria, Egypt. Upon recovering he was sent to Washington, D.C. There Dahl began his writing career, publishing a short story in the Saturday Evening Post. His stories appeared in many other magazines. Like Dahl said, "as I went on, the stories became less and less realistic and more fantastic. But becoming a writer was pure fluke. Without being asked to, I doubt if I'd ever have thought of it."
Dahl’s love for writing and poetry began to grow. He began to write many poems and stories. His most famous stories are James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Matilda. He has written numerous poems, many of which are based off of his books, including Mike Teavee... and Augustus Gloop! Augustus Gloop. Roald did all his writing in a little hut at the bottom of his garden. It was rather scruffy, with an old armchair, but he liked the peace and went there for hours every day. He carried on writing right up until he died in 1990.
Accomplishments:
While Dahl never did receive awards for his poetry he won awards for other accomplishments in his life. Dahl received three Edgar Allan Poe Awards (1954, 1959, 1980). In 1982 he won a literary prize for the book THE BFG. In 1983 he received World Fantasy Convention Lifetime Achievement award.Photos:
Poems:
Roald Dahl wrote over 20 poems. These include:Mike Teavee.....
The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set --
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink --
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK -- HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY ... USED ... TO ... READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and-
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How the Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole-
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks-
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something to read.
And once they start -- oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.
I've got the Golden Ticket
I never thought my life could be
Anything but catastrophe
But suddenly I begin to see
A bit of good luck for me
'Cause I've got a golden ticket
I've got a golden twinkle in my eye
I never had a chance to shine
Never a happy song to sing
But suddenly half the world is mine
What an amazing thing
'Cause I've got a golden ticket
It's ours, Charlie
I've got a golden sun up in the sky
I never thought I'd see the day
When I would face the world and say
Good morning, look at the sun
I never thought that I would be
Slap in the lap of luxury'
Cause I'd have said it couldn't be done
But it can be done
I never dreamed that I would climb
Over the moon in ecstasy
But nevertheless, it's there that I'm
Shortly about to be
'Cause I've got a golden ticket
I've got a golden chance to make my way
And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day
Good morning, look at the sun'
Cause I'd have said it couldn't be done
But it can be done
I never dreamed that I would climb
Over the moon in ecstasy
But nevertheless, it's there that I'm
Shortly about to be
'Cause I've got a golden ticket'
Cause I've got a golden ticket
I've got a golden chance to make my way
And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day